Teaching and Learning as Creative Journeys


Objective:

Essential Question:

Identify and articulate a definition of classroom creativity for teachers and students appropriate for grade levels taught.

How can educators across all grade levels foster a creative, yet standards-based classroom environment?



Assessment Piece:

Full-class discussion in which participants share their insights and ah-ha moments written in their Writer's Notebooks, and begin to articulate ways in which they can foster greater creativity in their classrooms.

Deadline: Wednesday, July 13



Module 4A

Writer's Notebook Prompt to Complete Before Viewing:

Module 4B

Writer's Notebook Prompt to Complete After Viewing:

Create a working definition of what it means to be creative in the classroom, for both teachers and students, that is appropriate for your situation. Think “pie in the sky” ideal here. Then, answer this: How close does your classroom environment come to emulating that ideal? Your school? Explain (without descending into a rant or complaint-fest!).

What insights/ah-ha moments did you have while watching the video? What did Sir Ken say that made sense to you? What didn’t make sense? What ideas do you have about how to foster more creativity in your classroom, yet still stay standards-based? Be as specific as possible.



"Schools Kill Creativity" - Sir Ken Robinson





Additional Resources, Adaptations, and Extensions

"Five Fundamentals for Creating a Positive Writing Atmosphere" by Gaetan Pappalardo

Exploiting Chaos by Jeremy Gutsche (Click on "Read Chapter 1")